Ivan Ivanov, a defender of the Swiss Club Basel, won on Thursday the 53rd "Best Bulgarian Football Player of The Year" award.

The 25-year-old Ivanov, who also plays for the country's national team, was recognized by a poll of 147 journalists from 57 media, followed by Ivelin Popov from the Russian Kuban Krasnodar.

Svetoslav Dyakov from Bulgaria's Ludogorets Razgrad, that recently managed to overcome the group stage of UEFA Europa League, came third.

Dyakov also was named best midfielder, while his team-mate Vladislav Stoyanov, who last week was selected by UEFA at the Team of the Europa League group stage, became best goalkeeper in the Balkan country.

Two more prizes went to the team from Razgrad -- its manager Stoicho Stoev was selected coach of the year, and Marcelinho became the best foreign player in the Bulgarian championship.

Valentin Iliev from CSKA, Martin Kamburov from Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Simeon Slavchev from Litex Lovech were named best defender, best forward, and best young player respectively, while the 20-year-old forward Todor Nedelev from Botev Plovdiv, who on Jan. 1, 2014 will join the German FSV Mainz 05, was named fans' favorite.